Violence erupts at right-wing demonstration in the Netherlands ahead of election

A right -wing The demonstration in the Netherlands broke out in violence and chaos on Saturday while rioters came up against the police and vandalized the office of a political party, just a few weeks before the country has a general election.

The police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse rioters who threw objects from the police and burned a police car. There was no immediate word on injuries or arrests. The Dutch media have shown that rioters also attacked a office of a centrist political party, D66.

The Dutch press agency ANP reported that a group of 1,500 anti-immigration demonstrators had blocked the A12, a major motorway which links The Hague to the border of Germany.

“Scum. You keep the hands of political parties,” said party leader Rob Jetten, in a message on X. “If you think you can intimidate us, luck. We will never leave the extremist rioters to remove our beautiful country.”

Some of the people in the crowd wore the Netherlands flag with an orange band instead of the red, symbol of the Dutch Nazi party (NSB), said Jetten.

“And all this in the name of” we are the Netherlands “. No,” said the politician. “It has nothing to do with the Netherlands. It is pure intimidation. Do not let the Loudmouth win. It is the positive forces that build a better country.”

A smaller group of rioters headed for the Dutch parliament complex, which is currently closed because it is renovating a year. Police prevented them from entering the largely deserted area.

Violence broke out during a demonstration attended by hundreds of people, many of whom carrying black and waving flags, which called for more strict asylum policies.

“Shocking and bizarre images of shameless violence in The Hague, after an uncontrollable demonstration,” wrote the Prime Minister of the Guardian, Dick Schoof, on X. He called the attacks on the police and the D66 “completely unacceptable” D66 office and expressed his confidence that the police and the prosecutors reflect the justice buildings.

The troubles occur weeks before a general election of October 29 which was called after the anti-Islam legislator Geert Wilders withdrew his party from the coalition in power in a dispute on the measures to slow down migration.

In a statement, Wilders sentenced the rioters for blocked a highway and attacking the police, calling them “idiots” and “foam”.